Nair Promoted to Head of Ford North America

Raj Nair, one of the leading figures behind the Ford GT project, has been promoted to a new senior position at Ford, as part of global staff shakeup announced by the American manufacturer on Thursday.

Nair has been named the new Executive Vice President and President of Ford North America, effective June 1, where he will be responsible for leading all aspects of the company’s North American business units.

Previously, Nair was the Executive Vice President of Product Development and Chief Technical Officer, playing a key role in the development of the Ford GT road and race cars alongside Ford Performance Global Director Dave Pericak.

Nair’s new position is just one of nearly a dozen senior-level staff changes within the company, which comes in the wake of newly appointed Ford President and CEO Jim Hackett, who was named to the position on Monday.

“The leadership changes we are announcing today across our global business are important as we foster even greater teamwork, accountability and nimble decision-making,” Hackett said.

“I am excited to work together with Bill Ford and such a talented and diverse group of leaders to create a more vibrant Ford that delivers value for all of our stakeholders.”

John Dagys is the founder and Editor-in-Chief of Sportscar365 as well as the recently launched e-racing365 Web site for electric racing. Dagys spent eight years as a motorsports correspondent for FOXSports.com/SPEED Channel, and contributes to other publications worldwide. Contact John

7 Comments

7 Comments

amlv20

May 25, 2017 at 3:38 pm

I hope this new ceo doesn’t start trying to cut the GT program cold turkey like dodge and Peugeot.let it live its life span to 2019 like planed.

I’ll take the position. I’ll submit to the board to enter F1 as a engine supplier (like Honda). I’ll buy back Costworth. Once the Ford GT goes out of production, I’ll take the sports car team, and move up to LMP1 class. I’ll also get a little more back into NHRA lol

This is the little weasel that stood outside the Risi garage looking for something to protest while the Risi #82 Ferrari was leading LeMans last year….Ford acted disgracefully last year at LeMans, its funny the huge factory effort of Ford felt threatened by a one car private team in Risi….I hope if Nair goes snooping around the Risi garage again at this years LeMans, that someone from Risi knocks his teeth down his throat…

writings on the wall now. Ford has big shake up. wants to bring ‘value to the share holders’. GT racing for them is just an expense. Ford’s not in it to race sportscars… there biggest revenue producer is likely the F150. this year will be there last run in GT world I bet. what do they spend? $25Mil a year GTE/GTLM racing? hard to justify… management shake ups,layoffs and then a GT program that brings in nothing and spends millions…